The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team fell 4-3 to the Queen’s Gaels in a tightly contested game on Saturday, October 18 at Varsity Arena.

Toronto started off strong, dominating the play in the first period. Fourth-year assistant captain and Blues player of the game Annie DelGuidice (Hamilton, Ont.) notched her first goal on a power-play when she buried a rebound off an Amy Cornell (Oakville, Ont.) point shot.

First-year forward Callie Bazak (Peterborough, Ont.) took a beautiful pass from linemate Allie White (Metcalfe, Ont.) to give the Blues a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.

DelGuidice tallied another power-play goal 30 seconds into the second period, skating the length of the ice to put one past Gaels goaltender Melissa John (Unionville, Ont.).

Queen’s answered back on the next shift as Elizabeth Kench (Gananoque, Ont.) scored off a point shot from Kerstin Van Bolderen (Medina, Oh.). The Gaels took control and recorded their second goal as Megan McNutt (Ottawa, Ont.) picked up a rebound and found the back of the net. Toronto held a narrow 3-2 lead at the end of the second period.

Two power-play goals from Kristin Smith (Toronto, Ont.) and Kelsey Thomson (Martintown, Ont.) would give Queen’s the lead with nine minutes remaining in the game. Despite some solid scoring opportunities, the Blues could not find the back of the net and the Gaels came away with the 4-3 victory.

The Varsity Blues return to action tomorrow when they take on the UOIT Ridgebacks at Varsity Arena. The puck drops at 5 p.m.